Improvement in platform-springs for vehicles



T. GMMANDT. Platform-Spring for Vehigles.

No 212,716. Patented Feb. 25,1879.

7i -Q\ i .3. I \M N.PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. O.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIc.

.TARGE Gr. MANDT, OF STOUGHTON, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLATFORM-SPRINGS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 212,716, datedFebruary 25, 1879; application filed March 21, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TARGE G. MANDT, of Stoughton, in the county of Daneand State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Platform-"Springs; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and in whicl1- Figure l is atop plan. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Fig. 4 isaperspective view of the under side of the upper concentrically-grooveddisk, which takes the place of fifth-wheel. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionof the two disks and axle, on lineman, Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a sideview, on an enlarged scale, of the double head at the end of springs,which forms a part of and is used with my improvement.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

y invention relates to an improved construction and combination of partsof so-ealled platformsprings used in vehicles, the nature of which willbe fully understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the drawings.

Ais the axle, to each end of which, on its under side, are clipped theside springs, B B. O is the rear connecting-sprin g, the ends of whichare connected with the rear ends of springs B B by cross or angle headsin the usual man- To the middle of spring 0 is secured, by clips 0 0 orin any other suitable manner, a block or plate, D, made of cast ormalleable iron, of a width corresponding to that of the spring, andhaving at each end two oblique cars, 61 (Z d d, with perforations forthe bolts 6 e.

E E are two oblique or converging springs, each of which is secured, atone end, to the ends of the side springs, B B, and at the otherconverging ends to the oblique heads of the plate D by the bolts 0 e.

The saud-board F is secured upon springs E E by clip-plates f and bolts9, just over the axle, and has secured upon its middle a flat metaldisk, G, having a central perforation, h,

and sidenotches, Upon this plate or disk rests a correspondingcap-plate, H, having an annular downward-projecting flange, k, andcentral bolt, l, which fits into the perforation h in plate G and beamor board F, and serves as the king-bolt, having a nut, j, at its lowerend.

Disk H has a series of concentric depressions or flat grooves, (denotedby m m,) which form receptacles for cotton waste soaked in tallow oroil, or other lubricating material, besides reducing the area of contactor wearing-surface, so that the two disks will slide easily upon eachother. Its flange 76 has in wardly-bent lugs or ears 70 lo, which fitinto the notchesz'z'in the periphery of plate G, and project in underthis when, after placing disk H upon disk G, the former is turned toeither side. Thus, it will be observed that even if bolt Z wereWithdrawn, the two disks cannot come apart except when the catch-lugs kk are immediately opposite to the notches z 2'; and it will also be seenthat the annular flange or guard 70 will prevent sand or dirt fromentering between the plates and obstruct the free motion thereof.

The forward ends of each of the springs E E terminate in what I call adouble head, N-- that is, the downward-bent flanges of the end of thespring which constitute the head are provided with two perforations orbolt-holes on each side instead of one, as usual. The bolt or pin whichunites the ends of springs E B and E B, respectively, is inserted intothe rearmost of these perforations, the forward part of the flangesprojecting out over the uniting-point, so as to form a recess, intowhich are inserted the eyes r r, one on each end of the cross or end barI of the tongue, the couplingeyes r being pivoted upon and held in placeby the bolts n. In the drawings I have shown these double headsN as partof the upper converging springs E E; but it is obvious that thisarrangement may be reversed, and that the side springs, B B, may be madewith double heads for the insertion of the ton glue-coup lings.

The advantages ofthis construction are, that I dispense with all gear,making the draft direct by the ends of springs without the use ofintermediate links or couplings. The ends of 2 cream .ployment of castor malleable heads.

K K are the steps, each of which consists of an oval plate having aconcave step or shoulder, 0, on its under side, which fits over thecurve of the rear head of the side spring, upon which it is secured by asingle bolt or rivet,

The shoulder 0 prevents the plate from turning to either side, so thatit will always remain rigidly in its position without the use ofi clips,hangers, or equivalent devices.

By clipping the side springs onto the under side of the axle, insteadofupon the'upper side, as usual, I make the draft from the under side ofthe axle, besides lowering the platform and bringing it closer to theground, one objection to this class of springs as ordinarily made beingtheirheight, which raises the'\vagon'-box a greater distance from theground than is, as I a rule, desirable.

The double heads or ears N N arecoi'i'struct- 'ed in one piece with eachspring E E by first thickening their forward ends, then rolling orhammering'the thickened portionsto'thethickness of the body of thespring, bywhich'sfaid ends will be widened'or spread out, when the samemay be perforated to form 'the apertures for the reception of theside-'sprin g-connec'ti'n g bolts and those of the thill-coupli'ngs. The

next step is to bend or turn the spread-out portions downwardly at ri'ght angles to the bodyor plates of the springs, when 'thetn'rneddownportions or heads or cars may be finished in the manner shown orotherwise, thus completing the construction of the heads or cars.

I am aware that, broadly, the use of an end spring, side springs, andconverging springs in combination is old.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- 1. In a platform spring forvehicles, the springs E E, having the double heads or clips N N, incombination with the springs B B and cross-bar I of the tongue,substantially as and for the purpose 'set forth.

2. The combination of the spring-platform coni 'ao'sed'of the parallel'side'sp'rin gs, B B {end spring- 0, an converging springs EE, providedat their front ends with doubleheads N N, constructed asdescrib'ed,:ivi'th the' tong'ue I I, provided with coi'iplin'g-eyes i r,substantially and for the"1: ur'pose herein -sh'ownand described. V v pA 3. The step-plates K, havingeoncajvesteps or shoulders 0 on theirunderside, 'fittin-gover the convex heads of springs B B,'and "securedthereto by a single bolt or rivet, p,"s"ubstantially "as and for thepurpose herein sh'ownand described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 'myown I have heretoaftikediny signature in presence'oftwo witnesses. TARGE "Gr. 'M'ANDT.

Witnesses J NO. W. HADIGAN, AUeus'r PETERs'oHN.

